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‘Vettel to Ferrari in 2014’

Felipe Massa will be granted a stay of execution at Ferrari as the Italian stable is set to retain him as they have to wait until 2014 for Sebastian Vettel…

Felipe Massa will be granted a stay of execution at Ferrari as the Italian stable is set to retain him as they have to wait until 2014 for Sebastian Vettel.

It’s been said before and no doubt it will be said again and again but this time it’s coming from ‘sources inside Ferrari’ – and just hours after the German grabbed the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

According to a fresh report on the BBC on Monday morning, ‘sources inside Ferrari say they have signed a contract with Vettel, 25, with an option to join in 2014 depending on their results.’

The report added that the ‘contract is likely to define a position Ferrari must occupy in the title race at a point in 2013.’

However, it’s not just Ferrari’s position in the standings that counts for something as there is also Fernando Alonso’s thoughts to consider.

That Spaniard, though, has ‘sanctioned’ Vettel’s arrival having reportedly ‘vetoed the idea of Lewis Hamilton joining the team earlier this year.’

And all this is great news for Massa as it means the Brazilian, who claimed his first podium of the season in Japan two weeks ago, will secure another season with Ferrari.

“If I want to anticipate the next question that I’m sure someone will ask, very soon you will know what will be our position in that respect,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali in Korea on Sunday as he pre-empted questions about Massa’s future.